Dispensing apparatus



Feb. 17, 1959 w. J. ECKLES I 2,873,894

DISPENSING APPARATUS I Filed July 5, 1957,

INVENTOR.

U tes P w 1 2,873,894 DISPENSING APPARATUS William J. Eckles, Anaheim, Calif., assignor to Morton Salt Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application July 5, 1957, Serial No. 670,253 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-480) This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and, more particularly, to a combination pouring spout and sifter adapted for use in dispensing granulated materials or the like.

With the increased popularity of outdoor cooking in both rural and urban areas, it has become quite customary to dispense the seasoning for the food directly from the original package rather than from some smaller shaker. In such case, however, it oftentimes becomes necessary and diflicult to dispense a controlled amount of the seasoning, in sifted form, rather than dispensing it in unrestricted pouring form, or vice versa.

Various containers embodying apparatus for dispensing the contents of the container either in sifted or unrestricted pouring form have heretofore been proposed. Such containers, however, because of their design, are possessed of one or more of the following shortcomings: First, the dispensing apparatus is of delicate and costly construction; second, the apparatus is awkward to manipulate and susceptible to clogging; third, the apparatus requires a plurality of enlarged apertures being formed in the container and, thus, causing the container to be inherently weak at its apertured surface; and last, the apparatus renders the container unattractive in appearance.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a dispensing apparatus which is not beset with the aforementioned shortcomings.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a compact dispensing apparatus which effectively retains the pouring spout in its closed position while the contents of the container are being sifted therefrom.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a dispensing apparatus is provided for use with a container for granulated material, in which one end of the container is provided with an elongated primary aperture and a secondary aperture disposed adjacent one side of said primary aperture. Pivotally mounted on the container end and adjacent a second side of the primary aperture is a spout member having imperforate side sections which extend through the primary aperture into the container interior. The spout member side sections slidably engage portions of the container end circurnjacent the primary aperture. A second member is provided which is slidably mounted on the container end for movement toward and away from the pivotal axis of the spout member. A portion of the second member is disposed within the primary aperture and partially delimits and frictionally engages portions of the spout member. The second member is provided with a perforate portion which is adapted to register with the secondary aperture only when the second member is in a predetermined position of slidable adjustment.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be made to the drawings, wherein:

1 Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved apparatus showing the spout member in closed 7 2,873,894 Patented Feb. 17, 1959 her in its open or pouring position and the second memher in its closed position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along hne 44.of Fig. 1.

, Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along hne 6.6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the second member alone. i

. Referring now to the drawings, an improved dispensing apparatus 10 is shown mounted on the end surface 11 of a container 12, the latter in this instance being shown of'tubular configuration. The end surface 11 in this instance is provided with an elongated relatively large primary aperture 13 and a plurality of relatively small secondary apertures 14, the latter being disposed in two rows, one adjacent each elongated 'side of the aperture 13.

The improved apparatus 10 includes a spout member 15, which is mounted for pivotal movement about a pm or staple 16. The spout member 15, when in its closed position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is adapted to completely overlie and close off the primary aperture 13 formed in end surface 11 of container 12. The pin 16 is disposed adjacent one side of the elongated apertures 13; the side, in this instance, being the short side of the aperture which is adjacent the perimeter of the container end' surface 11. The spout member 15, as seen more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, is of conventional construction and includes a web portion 17 which overlies the prlmary aperture 13 and a pair of quadrantal-shaped side members 18 and 20, which extend intothe interior of the container through the aperture 13. The web portion 17 and'side sections 18 and 20 are of imperforate construction. The portions of the side sections 18 and 29 which are disposed within the interior of conta1ner 12, are provided with laterally and outwardly extending projections 21 which are adapted to engage the under side of end surface 11 when the spout member is m its fully opened position (see Fig. 3), and limit the extent to wh ch the spout member 15 can be pivoted in one direction about pin 16. The free edge of web portion 17, that is, the edge opposite the pivotally connected edge, 1s provided with an extended finger tab 17:: which overlies a portion of the container end surface circumjacent the primary aperture 13, when the spout member is in its vclosed position, as seen more clearly in Fig. 4. The

side sections 18 and 20 extend in a slightly divergent manner from web portion 17 for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

The improved apparatus 16 includes also a slidable member 22, which is shown more clearly in Fig. 7. Slide member 22 is disposed on end surface 11 and encompasses three sides of the spout member 15, as seen more clearly in Fig. 3. The slide member 22 has a substantially U- shaped exposed body portion which includes leg sections 23 and a bight portion 24. Each leg section 23 has perforate upper and lower segments 23a and 23b, respectively, which slidably embrace the portions of end surface '11 which form the two elongated sides of elongated primary aperture 13. In assembling the apparatus on the end surface, the lower segments 23b of both sections 23 are initially inserted through opening 13 and then bent outwardly so as to contact the underside of the end surface. The upper and lower segments each have the perforations 25 thereof arranged in linear spaced relation with the corresponding perforations of said segments in coincident relation. The upper and lower segments of each leg section 23' are interconnected by a connecting segment 23c, which is positioned between the corre' sponding side section 18 or 20 of the spout member 15 and the corresponding elongated side of aperture 13. Thus, segments 236 function in the nature of shims and against which the side sections 18 and 20 slidably and frictionally engage. It will be noted in Fig. 7 that segments 23b'and 23c'extend beyond the free end of segment 23a, in order to insure that segments 23c will be incontact with the spout member side sections 18 and 20 when member 22 is moved to the fullest extent away from the staple 16. The extensions of segments 230 are recessed a slight amount to prevent interference by the staple 16 with sliding of member 22.

Bight portion 24 of member 22 engages only the exposed side of end surface 11 and is provided with a tongue 26 which extends between leg sections 23 into the area defined by aperture 13. The sides of tongue 26 cooperate with the leg sections 23 to form wedge-shaped pockets 27, which are adapted to frictionally accommodate portions of the arcuate edges 18a and 20a of the spout member side sections 18 and 20, respectively, when the slide member 22 is actuated to its fullest extent in one direction toward the pivotal axis of spout member 15 When slide member 22 is in this latter position, as shown in Fig. l, perforations 25 are in registration with the secondary apertures 14. Bight portion 24 is also provided with an upwardly extending struckout 28, which is adapted to facilitate actuation of member 22 relative to spout member "15. In addition to forming pockets 27, tongue 26 serves to seal off" the narrow side of aperture 13 when the apparatus is in the position shown in Fig. 2. The pockets 27 have a further function in serving as guides for the side sections 18 and 20 of the spout member 15 and thus prevent collapsing thereof toward one another when the spout member 15 is in its open position.

The direction of movement of slide member 22, relative to the spout member 15, is indicated by A in Fig. 2. Thus, when slide member 22 is actuated to the position shown in Fig. 1, wherein the spout member is frictionally accommodated or wedged in pockets 27 of member 22, the perforations formed in the member leg sections 23 are in registration with the secondary apertures -14 formed in end face 11 of container 12 and, simultaneously therewith, the spout member 15 is retained in its closed position. It is only when member 22 is in this position of adjustment that registration between perforations 25 and apertures 14 takes place. On the other hand, when member 22 is actuated away from the pivotal axis of spout member 15, the latter is free to pivot to its open position (see Fig. 3) and, at the same time, the secondary perfora- 12130218 14 are closed off by member leg segments 23:: and

It is to be understood, of course, that the shape of spout member 15 and slide member 22 will depend on the shape and size of the primary and secondary apertures 13 and 14, respectively, formed in the end surface 11 of container 12 and, therefore, the forms illustrated are merely by way of example. If desired, the lower segment 23b may be of such a narrow configuration as not to be capable of having perforations 25 formed therein, in which case only segments 23a would have the perforations formed therein. Furthermore, if the divergency of the side sections 18 and 20 of the spout member 15 is such that the latter will efiectively remain in its closed position while the contents are being sifted through perforations 14, then the configuratron o pockets 27 need not be wedge-shaped but, instead, oi uniform dimension throughout, in which case the sole function of the pockets is to serve as guides.

Thus, it will be seen that a simple, effective, compact and inexpensive dispensing apparatus has been provided which enables the contents of a container to either be poured in an unrestricted manner therefrom through pouring spout 15, or sifted through the perforations 25 of slide member 22.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A dispensing apparatus for use with a container having a surface provided with a primary aperture and a plurality of secondary apertures adjacent one side of such primary aperture, said apparatus comprising a pivotally mounted spout member positionable adjacent a second side of the primary aperture and adapted, when in one position of pivotal adjustment, to overlie and close off the primary aperture, said spout member having a side section extendable through the primary aperture and contiguous to a side of the primary aperture adjacent the secondary apertures, and a second member mountable on the container surface portion circumjacent the primary aperture for slidable movement toward and away from the pivotal axis of said spout member, said second member being continuously in partial encompassing relation with said spout member and, when actuated in a direction toward said spout member axis frictionally accommodating the side section of said spout member in a pocket formed in said second member, said second member including a perforate first portion having the perforations thereof registrable with the surface secondary apertures, only when said second member is in looking engagement with said spout member, and a second portion positionable intermediate said spout member side section and the contiguous primary aperture side and in frictional engagement therewith.

2. A dispensing apparatus for use with a container having a surface thereof provided with an elongated primary aperture and a plurality of secondary apertures arranged in a pair of rows disposed adjacent the opposite elongated sides of the primary aperture, said apparatus comprising 'a pivotally mounted spout member positionable adjacent such primary aperture and intermediate the rows of secondary apertures, said spout member, when in one position of pivotal adjustment, being adapted to overlie and close off the primary aperture, said spout member having a pairof relatively spaced imperforate side sections extendable through the primary aperture and contiguous to sides of the primary aperture, and a second member slidably mountable on such surface for movement toward and away from the pivotal axis of said spout member and adapted, when actuated toward said spout member, to effect locking of the latter in said overlying position with respect to such primary aperture, said second member having a substantially U-shaped body portion disposed continuously in substantial encompassing relation with said spout member, said body portion having perforate leg sections juxtaposed and in slidable engagement with the side sections of said spout member, the perforations of said leg sections being adapted to register with the secondary apertures of such surface, only when said second member is in locking engagement with said spout member, and a central section interconnecting said leg sections; said central section being substantially coextensive with the side of the primary aperture opposite from that to which said spout member is adapted to be pivotally connected.

3. The dispensing apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein the junctures between the central section and the side sections of said U-shaped body portion are provided with pockets for frictionally accommodating the edge portions of the imperforate side sections of said spout member, when said second member is actuated in a direction toward the pivotal axis of said spout member, and lock the latter in a position of pivotal adjustment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

